‘A Modest Proposal’ Notes and Questions
THURSDAY
It is very important to realise that ‘A Modest Proposal’ is not a serious piece of
writing. While it may portray Jonathan Swift’s thoughts and feelings about the
political issues of Ireland in the 1700s, Swift is not genuinely saying that children
should be eaten (not seriously!).
Last week we made a list of political issues in NZ at the moment, and what is
pressing on NZ society’s mind. During Swift’s life there were many issues. Look on
the internet and try and find what was happening during Swift’s lifetime in Ireland.
HINT: You can have a look at the CONTEXT document on the Wiki page under ‘A
Modest Proposal’ Resources.
Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal’ is a piece of satire or sarcasm. What is satire? What is
sarcasm? How is Swift’s piece of writing a piece of satire and sarcasm?
What do you think of Swift’s ‘A Modest Proposal’? Were you shocked at his
suggestions? Why do you think he chose to write this piece? Why do you think he
chose to write in this manner?
Read the following, ‘Analysis’:
ANALYSIS
In A Modest Proposal, Swift vents his mounting aggravation at the ineptitude of
Ireland's politicians, the hypocrisy of the wealthy, the tyranny of the English, and
the squalor and degradation in which he sees so many Irish people living. While A
Modest Proposal bemoans the bleak situation of an Ireland almost totally subject
to England's exploitation, it also expresses Swift's utter disgust at the Irish people's
seeming inability to mobilize on their own behalf. Without excusing any party, the
essay shows that not only the English but also the Irish themselves--and not only
the Irish politicians but also the masses--are responsible for the nation's
lamentable state. His compassion for the misery of the Irish people is a severe
one, and he includes a critique of their incompetence in dealing with their own
problems.
Political pamphleteering was a fashionable pastime in Swift's day, which saw vast
numbers of tracts and essays advancing political opinions and proposing remedies
for Ireland's economic and social ills. Swift's tract parodies the style and method of
these, and the grim irony of his own solution reveals his personal despair at the
failure of all this paper journalism to achieve any actual progress. His piece
protests the utter inefficacy of Irish political leadership, and it also attacks the
orientation of so many contemporary reformers toward economic utilitarianism.
While Swift himself was an astute economic thinker, he often expressed contempt
for the application of supposedly scientific management ideas to humanitarian
concerns.
The main rhetorical challenge of this bitingly ironic essay is capturing the attention
of an audience whose indifference has been well tested. Swift makes his point
negatively, stringing together an appalling set of morally untenable positions in
order to cast blame and aspersions far and wide. The essay progresses through a
series of surprises that first shocks the reader and then causes her to think
critically not only about policies, but also about motivations and values.
From: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/modestproposal/section5.rhtml
Note down SIX significant points from this ‘Analysis’. Think carefully about what you
find interesting, and what might be beneficial to know come essay writing time.
FRIDAY
‘A Modest Proposal’ Group work: Pages 8-10 JUSTIFICATIONS (for first- sixthly)
(ONE group of SIX, TWO groups of SEVEN)
Jigsaw activity
Each person in the group will be given a number- regroup in to new groups of that
number:
YOUR NUMBER IS THE NUMBER JUSTIFICATION YOU WILL DECONSTRUCT
AND RE-WRITE IN PLAIN, EVERYDAY ENGLISH 10 minutes
Back to your original groups- everyone will take turns and share their analysis of
their justification 15 minutes
By the end of this activity, everyone will understand Swift’s ‘reasoning’
Answer These Questions/Complete These Activities:
1. Make a list of the arguments Swift uses to present his case. ‘Translate’ each
argument in terms of Swift’s real feelings.
2. Describe the tone of ‘A Modest Proposal’- is it emotional, logic… how does
this tone contribute to the tone required for satire?
3. In order to alert people to the truth of a matter, a satirist sometimes uses
repugnant or shocking language and images. How does Swift use shock in
this article?
4. Is the speaker of ‘A Modest Proposal’ Swift himself? Why do you think it
is/isn’t? Would there be any benefit in adopting a mask to write such a
satirical piece?
5. Close Reading of Sections:
a. Introduction and definition of the problem (ll. 1–51)
• What is the problem, and to what extent is it a problem? What
information leads you to your conclusion?
b. Proposed solution (ll. 52–62)
• What is the proposed solution? In what ways does it appear serious?
In what ways is it preposterous?
c. Implementation (ll. 62–102)
• Briefly, what would be involved in implementing the proposal?
d. Endorsements (ll. 103–140)
• Who are the persons who appear to endorse the proposal?
• In what ways do their endorsements help or hurt the proposal? How
do you know?
e. Advantages (ll. 141–187)
• What are some of the principal advantages of the proposal?
f. Possible objections, concession, and refutation (ll. 188–209)
• What are the possible objections to the proposal?
• In what ways does Swift concede some of the objections?
• In what ways does Swift refute some of the objections?
g. Closing (ll. 210–239)
• What means does Swift use to reiterate his apparent sincerity?
h. Post-reading
• Describe how the various sections of Swift’s essay work together.
Analyse and consider the structure of the essay/text.
• Whom does Swift criticize in this piece?
• What changes does he hope to bring about?
MONDAY:
Finish questions + class discussion around selected questions
+ ‘How to write a response for 1.10’ 